Lions rally in final seconds to beat Falcons 22-21 in London

LONDON — Fitting, at one of the world's most famous soccer stadiums, that this would come down to a kick.

Matt Prater made the game-winning 48-yard field goal as time expired and the Detroit Lions beat the Atlanta Falcons in a wacky ending at Wembley Stadium, 22-21.

The Falcons scored the game's first 21 points, but gift-wrapped a comeback for the Lions with a late penalty and dropped pass on their final drive that saved the Lions more than a minute of clock.

The Lions started their final possession at their own 7-yard line, and Matthew Stafford drove them into field-goal territory with less than 30 seconds to play.

Prater, the Lions' third kicker this year, missed a 43-yard field goal on his first attempt, but the Lions were called for a delay-of-game penalty. His second kick sailed through the uprights to give the Lions (6-2) their third straight win.

The Lions have struggled with their kicking game all year.

They made just 6 of 16 attempts before today, and cut rookie Nate Freese and Alex Henery before signing Prater.

Prater made all three of his kicks today.

Nick Fairley suffered a potentially serious right knee injury in the first half and did not return for the Lions, who were shorthanded at defensive tackle entering the game after they suspended C.J. Mosley for conduct detrimental to the team.

Defensive ends Jason Jones and Darryl Tapp played some defensive tackle in the final three quarters, spelling Ndamukong Suh and Caraun Reid.

Stafford completed 24 of 47 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns, and broke Bobby Layne's franchise record for most career touchdown passes with a 59-yard bomb to Golden Tate on third-and-25 late in the third quarter.

Tate finished with seven catches for 151 yards as the Lions played without Calvin Johnson for the third straight game.

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Birkett writes for the Detroit Free Press